For three days they had stayed at Shadow Forest, under the protection of Carmentha and all the dragons and Drekablóð living there; mostly Forest and Earth Dragons and Drekablóð.
   During those three days of peace and frustration, Ignatius had learned nothing more than what he already knew about Sólskin and dragon souls. All they talked about were the basics every Drekablóð, specifically every young one before their first transformation, should know.
   They were suppose to be preparing to save Elementa yet they were being treated like children and not warriors. They hadn't even started any combat training whatsoever.
   Orestes and Anahita really needed it since they were pretty much useless on a battle field. For One: Orestes couldn't fight and his shorter stature made it harder for him to fight as well. Two: Anahita was too concerned about hurting others. Carmentha immediately decided on a healing and defensive training regimen for her. 
So Carmentha's plans for training them were not really going so well.
   At least he and Zephyr would be able to defend and fight for themselves. Between the two of them, Ignatius figured they would be able to handle most things that came their way, excluding The Hunters. Melia would also be an important member of their little group destined to save Elementa. Her experiences and capabilities would come in handy when the fighting really began.
   Waking up to Sólskin's infernal internal clock, he rolled out of the bed of piled up leaves and moss, not the glowing kind.
I swear you are more annoying that Enya, Haco, and Flint ever were. He grumbled.
At least I don't physical abuse you every day, just mentally.
Which is just as bad. He shot back, pulling a shirt over his head, feeling the stubble of hairs on his face run past the material of the shirt. He needed to shave.
I could be more annoying. Sólskin joked while he laced up the ties on his shirt.
I would prefer you not to be. Orestes is annoying enough on any day, even more so when he's in a really good mood.
   Well if you don't want me to be annoying anymore, I guess I'll just have to tell you to hurry up before you're late to battle training. You maybe got five minutes at the most before that grumpy Earth Drekablóð gets angry. Sólskin told him nonchalantly.
Seriously Sólskin! You tell me this now! Where was this warning like five minutes ago? He exclaimed in anger, knowing that Tor, his new weapons and hand to hand combat trainer, would not be to happy with him. He would most likely be furious.
You didn't ask.
He growled in frustration at Sólskin as he struggled to slip into the leather boots provided by the residents of Silva umbra. All their resources were made, grown, or stolen from caravans and wagons that got too close to Silva umbra. What happened to the people were unknown to him but if he had to guess they were killed.
   Ignoring Sólskin useless words for the rest of the time he had left, he hauled ass out of his hidden, hollow tree branch room and down to the forest below.
   Carefully running down the precarious and railless stone staircase encircling the titanic tree in the center of the underground forest, he fought the dizziness that tried to engulf him in its stupor.
  Once on the solid safety of ground, he ran as fast as he could to the meeting place he was shown yesterday as where he would be training with Tor and a few others.
By the time he reached the clearing, he was panting and sweat rolled down his face from the run and humid air down here despite the cool rock surrounding the underground forest.
Tor turned to look at him, his granite grey eyes scrutinizing him all over as if accessing why he was late.
"Late on your first day I see." Tor drawled. "How very disappointing. I hope you strive to get here on time like the rest of you fellow peers."
Ignatius didn't need to look at the other five people or nymphs or whatever they were to know they were snickering at him without even trying to hide it. Tor didn't even get on to them, clearly okay with treating his pupils that were slackers, lazy, and late. It reminded him painfully of Ignacio.
Ignatius didn't say anything knowing that it would only make matters worse like when he tried to on that one fateful day that started all of this is the first place.
   Taking his place next to the other five he would be training with, he listened intently as Tor started explaining the basics about weapons and hand to hand combat.
   Ignatius had heard all of this before from his now adoptive father Ignacio and had two years of experience with both types combat, but it was best to just listen and pretend he didn't know anything. He also wanted to make sure he didn't screw up anymore today than he had already.
"So anyone want to tell me what's the first thing you should do before engaging in a fight with an enemy?" Tor asked, his granite eyes sweeping over all six of them.
Ignatius knew the answer but refrained from answering. Best to keep out of the attention spotlight that was just drawn to him.
Maybe if you didn't make it so easy to drawn attention to yourself then maybe it wouldn't have happened as much in the past. Have you ever thought of that? Sólskin told him.
Yes, I have for a matter of fact.
And...
He gritted his teeth as he finished his answer for Sólskin's prodding to end.
I let myself get angry and forget about not drawing attention to myself.
Good job. Sólskin said, a faint touch of humor to his voice.
Ignatius honesty didn't have any idea how he survived this long with Sólskin and all his craziness he brought with him.
Sólskin surprisingly didn't say anything so he returned his focus back to the question Tor asked the six of them.
A girl of around fourteen raised her hand, a glint of sunlight catching on her chocolate brown skin.
"Yes, Ivara." Tor called on the girl with a dark complexion like his own but richer with glowing shades of gold mixed in, making her look more exotic, especially with her bright gem green eyes.
"You would first draw your weapon and then study your opponent before engaging in a fight with them." Her melodic word rose clearly from her throat. "If they engage you first, go on the defensive while looking for a weakness in their offense. When you go to attack them, look for a hole in their defense. The mind is key to any battle." She finished, looking proud of herself as Tor nodded.
"Very good Ivara. I can only hope the rest of you can be as good as her." Tor told them all. "Now, let's begin. All of you pair off with some and look for a weakness in their defensive and offensive positions. No weapons, fists only."
As others looked who to pair off, Ignatius hung back, waiting for the other odd ball to pair up with. However, that didn't happen like how he thought it would. Instead, the first person to chose a partner was a young man of about seventeen with flashing azurite blue eyes, light orange sunstone hair darkening into a rich red realgar color, and pale skin littered with freckles all over his face and on the visible skin up to his elbows.
   "You're my partner, Drekablóð." He declared, not even giving Ignatius even say in the matter.
Hmm. Looks like he wants to challenge you for dominance to prove he's the best. And possibly to impress a few of the females. Sólskin observed.
Why do you have to be so weird. He groaned. But seriously he doesn't really even look like he can beat me. Ignatius said back, noting the other man's slender, rangy build. Compared to Ignatius's sinewy, athletic build, he looked much more like a twig.
Not everything is always what it appears to be. Sólskin said cryptically.
   Ignatius guessed that he meant that his "partner" wasn't to be underestimated. It was actually some wise advice that would have saved him much trouble years ago.
   "Now are we ready." Tor called.
   "Yes." The boy across from him replied with a few others.
   "On my count start fighting. One..."
   "Get ready to get your ass handed to you." The redhead said, grinning with delight as Ignatius took his place across from him.
   "...two..."
   "Just don't get too upset when it ends the other way." Ignatius shot back, getting into a neutral position; neither offensive or defensive, impossible to read.
   The other boy just grinned, white teeth flashing in the darkening light.
   Tor opened his mouth to say "one" but instead all Ignatius heard was a deafening boom.
   A explosive blast erupted above them, causing burning branches and other debris to fall down toward them. Rocks came tumbling down as well, one landing right in the midst of their group.
   "Get out of the clearing! NOW!" Tor bellowed, herding those nearest him away from the rock shaped object.
   Ignatius cast a look at the object before running away as well, literally urged/controlled by Sólskin.
   He recognized it immediately. He knew only one person who built things like that and he was dead. Or he should be.
   Ignatius continued running, dreading when the bomb would go off.
   Then it did.
   Heat seared at his back as the explosion quickly enveloped anything flammable nearby, surged on my the excessive amounts of explosive and flammable liquids inside.
   Screams of pain reached his ears, especially a familiar one.
   Ignatius changed a look over his shoulder to see the young man he was going to fight, on the ground, his arm badly burnt as his other was held up against the raging inferno held off by some invisible force.
A mage it seems. Sólskin said.
It appears so. He responded, remembering Elidi. We have to help him.
    Ignatius switched course, and headed back for him.
Are you mad?! That fire is extremely hot. You'll be lucky if I can stave off its heat.
   I thought we were a Fire Dragon and fire can't kill a Fire Dragon, can it? He asked Sólskin.
Very well, but if we get scorched nearly to death, I'm blaming it on you.
  Ignatius acknowledged his words, continuing on closing the distance between him and the mage.
   The mage looked at him approaching, his azurite eyes widening with surprise, like he thought Ignatius wouldn't come back for him.
"Don't get excited or nothing. I'm just being a decent human being." He told the mage as he approached him.
Sólskin can you do something about this fire? He asked the dragon soul, eyeing the wildfire consuming all the nearby vegetation, leaving him and the mage alone, protected by his magic.
Maybe. But you're going to have to help too.
Fine. He said, reaching down to help the mage to his feet as the flames behind them started to grow a little closer.
"Careful with the arm." The mage grumbled, wincing as Ignatius slipped his injured arm over his shoulder to allow the mage to still work his magic with his good arm.
They began walked forward as one, trying to find a place to take cover from the fire.
The flames started to recede a little bit, but not much as they continued forward.
Focus on the flames receding more. Sólskin told him. I need you to do this, there's only so much I can do by myself.
Ignatius did as Sólskin asked, focusing intently on the flames before him, willing them to part for him and the mage. The flames bent to his and the mage's will he assumed.
The fire parted for them for the rest of their treacherous walk through the burning underground forest as they headed for the center and heart of the forest.
    Once there, Ignatius looked around frantically, fear flooding throughout him as he realized no one was around. No one to help them.
   The mage, Axton was his name, grumbled a few choice words under his breath.
Where did everyone go? He asked Sólskin, hoping he had an answer.
Where do you think, idiot. They all must have left after the first attack. Which still begs the question of who attacked this place? And how they knew about? I doubt anyone but the ones who live down here know about it. It also seems fairly unlikely that they would just turn on their goddess like this. Strange things are happening and I don't like them. It was the first time Ignatius had ever heard Sólskin sound so unsure and hesitant about something. Usually he was confident about things. This was a whole new thing he wasn't use to and didn't want to get use to at all.
Let's go look around for some help—, Sólskin was cut off by the sudden screams that filled the suddenly too small underground forest.
   Axton seemed startled by the horrific screams, his azurite eyes darting back and forth between the dark smoky shapes running around in the fire and smoke.
   "I think we should find some higher ground before whatever those are find us." Axton's voice wavered in fear as a dark spindly shape started running towards them.
   Ignatius didn't bother wasting any time.
   He and Axton ran as fast as they could, looking for a place to hide from the thing chasing them.
Sólskin! What is that thing? He cried out to him, hoping he knew what that thing behind them was.
Does it look like I know? He asked in an irritated yet worried voice. He truly didn't know, which frightened Ignatius even more. All I know is just run. And—if you have to leave Axton behind to save your own skin then do it. Your life is more important than his. Sólskin said very gravely, shocking him at his words, never thinking Sólskin was capable of concocting such an immoral act.
I won't leave him. He has as much as a right to live just like us. It wouldn't be right for him to die while I live. Heck, I'm the one that deserves to die for all the horrible things I've done, not Axton.
   Look, I know you want to be a good human and make up for all the wrongs you've done in the past but sometimes you have to make the hard decision to save the lives of thousands over the life of just one person who may or may even live to see the end of the day of this thing doesn't give up it's chase.
   Ignatius didn't respond back, too deep in thought over his words about leaving Axton behind if it meant saving himself and thousands of other in Elementa.
   Then Ignatius abruptly fell down when Axton tripped, bashing his knee hard on a rock.
   "Mother fucker," he growled, gingerly pushing himself back up, looking at his bleeding knee.
   "Axton, dammit what did you trip on?" He snarled at the mage in anger at being slowed down by the mage.
   Axton didn't say anything.
   Ignatius quickly looked at him. His eyes were shut and his chest was rising, but that didn't change the fact that their was a nasty gash on his head from where he must have hit his head on something pretty hard.
   "I remember you." An eerie voice hissed out from the thickening smoke. "Yes, you're the little Draconigena that escaped me."
Ignatius watched the smoke closely as a slim person stalked out of the smoking forest behind her. A sword glinted in her hand while in the other she held a dagger.
Ignatius immediately recognized her.
"Hello again, little Draconigena." She said, her storm grey eyes shimmering with amusement.
"What the Hell are you doing here?" He growled, increasingly worried at how she found her way here. If she found her way in then that mean the others did too. All The Hunters were here and that meant a lot of people, dryads, Drekablóð, dragons and whatever else was hidden down was most likely going to die.
   "Oh you and your four new friends really are stupid when it comes to covering your tracks. I suppose it also doesn't help that we been scouting Silva umbra for months now and knew it was refuge for monsters like yourself." She said, hate raging behind her storm grey eyes. "Now, are you going to be a good little Draconigena and come quietly with me or do I have to drag you back to my fellow Hunters kicking and screaming like a little child?" She asked, a malicious grin spreading on her face as her canines winked in the dark lighting.
This human has some serious issues. Let's burn her.
   Is violence always the answer with you?
   Hey, you've resorted to violence just as much as I have in the past. So don't act like I'm the bad one when you're not innocent yourself. Sólskin told him.
   "Hello, I'm still here. Are you going to answer or are you just going to stare off into dreamland?" The Hunter demanded, her hands resting on her hips in an impatient manner. "I don't got all day you know. So make your cho—," she shut up when something smacked her out of the way and into a nearby thorn bush.
   "Damn, she's annoying." Melia said, walking up to Ignatius and the unconscious Axton, her fingers flicking toward the retracting tree branch that had smacked The Hunter.
   "Thanks." He said to her without much thought.
   Melia's eyesbrows shot up at his words, her face almost quirking into a small smile but she didn't let it happen, retaining her hardend resolve.
   "You're welcome." She replied. "Now grab your friend and let's go."
That's was very...strange. First time I think I've heard her say "You're welcome". Sólskin said, sounding just as surprised as Ignatius.
   Reaching down, he threw Axton's arm over his shoulder and followed Melia as quickly as he could.
   Melia hastily led the way to the large tree in the heart of the underground forest.
   There were humans, elves, and dryads all crowding to get up the stone stairs the encircled the tree.
   As Melia approached with Ignatius, the crowd started to clear for them.
   Ignatius could have sworn he saw a few look at him with a hopeful look in their eyes, a few even bowed their head at him, muttering words he didn't understand; Sólskin didn't translate like he usually did.
"Einn af fjórum, Eldur" was one of the words he heard along with "von" and "frelsari".
   None of these words made sense to him except the first one he heard a long time ago. They were the very words on his back on the day he awoke after his first transformation and had his run in with Nixie and Mayim; both dying at the hands of The Hunters.
"Come on, enough lallygagging." Melia suddenly interrupted his thoughts as her hand encircled his bicep and yanked him up the first step with Axton's feet dragging behind him.
"What's going to happen to the rest of them?" He asked his fellow Drekablóð who was also a dryad when they disappeared from sight and hearing of the crowd below.
Melia didn't answer.
"Melia, what's going—,"
"They'll be fine." She forced out through clenched teeth, her grip becoming almost too unbearable for him to handle.
"They're not going to make it, are they?" He dared.
Melia's silence was all he needed to confirm his answer.
He didn't know why he felt horrible for leaving all those people he didn't even know down there while knowing what their fate would be.
Because it means you have a heart, which sometimes just gets into the way when it is not needed, especially when it comes to life and death situations. Sólskin said.
Well I rather have a heart than be a—a monster like—,
   Like me? Sólskin interrupted, sounding neither mad nor upset and that scared him more than not knowing what he was feeling.
No, I was going to say Ignacio. He's the true monster along with Savita and The Hunters. He answered, anger boiling inside him at the bitter and agonizing memory of his week spent at Savita's newly acquired citadel through murdering her entire family; he still wasn't sure about Helio and Helia.
Forget your past wounds and look only toward the future. If you keep reliving those poisonous memories you'll never be able to move on. You'll be stuck. Always remember that Ignatius. I may be in your mind but that doesn't mean I'll always be here.
   What does that even mean? About you not always going to be here? He asked Sólskin but never got an answer due to someone screaming his name as arms wrapped around him.
   "Ignatius you're—," Anahita was interrupted when Axton's unconscious form slipped from his grasp and fell face down on the tree branch with a solid thump.
   "Whoops." Was all he could manage while holding back a smile threatening to curl at the edges of his mouth.
   "I'm so glad you're alive!" Anahita continued, her ocean colored eyes shining with joy.
   He quickly became aware of three other pairs of eyes watching him, two teeming with the edge of laughter.
Stupid Orestes and Zephyr.
   "Um...I'm glad you're alive too." He said back, unsure of what to say. He knew she would have been safe no matter what being with healers and mages that knew this forest like the back of their hands.
   Anahita only smiled brighter.
   "Well if you two are done hugging and kissing all over each other, we're needed in the other room." Melia said, watching all four of them with her piercing forest green eyes.
   "What about him?" Anahita asked, gesturing to Axton still lying on the floor.
   "I'll send healers in as soon as possible." Carmentha's voice cut through them all. "For now I need you all to come with me now before those Hunters find you. You four are our only hope at stopping this war that is on the verge of breaking free from the dam of piled up tensions between humans and all the magical creatures of Elementa since the beginning of Bellum ex Quod Draco ipsos Troiugenas. Now come."
The five of them follows the goddess over the many twisting tree branches of the titanic tree.
Soon coming to the stone wall of the gigantic caldera that surrounded and protected the underground forest.
"You all must leave immediately." Carmentha ordered, revealing a small tunnel sloping upwards, most likely to the surface and freedom from this tinderbox. "We'll hold them off for as long as we can. Melia, you must get them to our base in Montes, et impenetrabilia. It's the only place where they may be safe from outside forces."
   "But—Lady Carmentha, I can possibly leave you here to die. I can't. You must come with us." Melia argued while Zephyr started up the tunnel with Orestes waiting.
    "Melia," Carmentha said gently, laying a tender hand on the dryad's shoulder, "even if I die today, I am not truly dead. I will still be reborn. Maybe not this year or the next, or even in this century. But always know that I will be with you no matter what, even if you can't see me."
   "Ignatius, come on." Anahita called him, pulling him out of his unintentional eavesdropping on Melia and Carmentha.
   He started to climb up after the others when he heard something that caught his ear in particular.
   "You have always been the daughter I could have ever hoped for."
   "And you the mother I never had but always dreamed of." Melia whispered back. "Thank you for taking care of me, móðir."
Then Melia was clambering up the tunnel after him.
Trying to act like he hadn't been listening in on her conversation with her mother figure, he focused on climbing faster to distance himself from the possibly angry and upset dryad climbing behind him.
   When he reached the end of the tunnel and climbed out, he found Anahita, Zephyr, and Orestes all surrounded by six familiar figures.
   Zephyr was the first one to spot him, her blue and gold eyes going wide with fear at the sight of him.
   "We meet again, little Draconigena." The Hunter from earlier hissed behind him followed by a sharp point poking him in the back.
Have I ever mention how much I hate this unkillable bitch.
   "Move before things start to get ugly." She growled, prodding him forward.
   The six other Hunters made a gap for the Impenetrable Mountaineer Hunter to push him through.
   "Well it's nice to see you again, Ignatius." Rhys said. "We've heard so much about you from Queen Savita and Ignacio."
Shock ran through him as soon as Rhys said his adoptive Father's name. How did Rhys even know about him. The chances of them meeting is extremely slim especially now that Ignacio was dead.
Rhys only smiled as if this was the funniest thing in the world to him.
"Why don't you come on out and say hello to Ignatius, Ignacio." Rhys said maliciously.
   There was slight rustling of branches and Ignatius turned to see Ignacio, alive and breathing regrettably, walk out from the foliage, grinning his sickening smile that made him want to knock it flat off his nauseating face.
   "Hello, Boy." Ignacio spat.
   "I thought I killed you. What a shame. I guess I'll just have to do it again and make sure your ass is dead this time." Ignatius growled back, urged on by Sólskin.
   "Such hurtful words to one who raised you. I would expect better behavior. But I guess beasts have no such manners. Their only thought is to destroy and kill anything in their path, am I right."
   "What's going on up there?" Melia shouted angrily. "I swear if the four of you are fighting I'm going to beat some sense into all of you."
   Ignatius and the others froze as a few of The Hunters got into position to strike Melia when she appeared out of the tunnel.
   Ignatius knew they had to do something but with some of The Hunters standing in striking distance of them, there wasn't much they could do to stop this. The only way would be to fight them off which would be insanely hard due to The Hunters' enhanced abilities making them on equal footing with an elf; the elves were the strongest and fastest of the humanoid races. They're chances of winning a fight with The Hunters was incredibly slim, especially with Anahita and Orestes being basically useless in an all out fight like what this might become if they fight. But there was no other option in saving Melia. They had to fight.
Sólskin, do you think you can help me set a few of these Hunters on fire? He asked the dragon soul.
What do you think?
   Hell yes.
   You got that right. Let's burn these assholes!
   Before he had the chance to make a move against any of The Hunters tree branches swayed, knocking all The Hunters out of the way; one of the branches smacked Ignacio so hard up the head that he started to bleed.
   "Do you Uppskerumenn really think I'm that stupid?" Melia asked rhetorically as she pulled herself out of the tunnel. "I'm not a fucking moron like the rest of you fucking idiots."
All Melia got for a response was moans of pain.
"Stay down like good little human filth bags before you get hurt even more." Melia turned to them. "Let's go."
They turned around to leave when suddenly Melia gasped in pain.
Ignatius whipped around to see Melia with a blade pierced through her heart. She coughed, sap colored blood trickling down her mouth. Her trembling hands groped for the blade protruding out of her chest. Forest green eyes no longer showed steel but pain. Sorrow. Guilt.
As the light finally faded from her eyes, a green wisp of smoke left Melia as she exhaled her last breath. The smoke wrapped around Ignacio's arm and disappeared into his skin. A green dragon tattoo then appeared, wrapping around his arm.
Ignatius failed Acacius. He promised to protect Melia and he didn't. He got her killed.
It's not your fault. It's that one eyed demon's fault. Stabbing someone in the back like that is an act of cowardice. He deserves to pay with his life.
Let's finish this. That bastard needs to die once and for all.
A flame flickered to life in his hand at his rising anger.
Ignacio looked at him caution, his one russet eye registering what almost looked like fear.
Thunder clapped loudly above them as streaks of blue-white lightning chased each other across the darkening sky.
He became aware of Zephyr, Anahita, and Orestes standing by his side. All ready to fight with him, unhesitatingly.
Ignacio was joined by his now fellow Hunters, all drawing their deadly swords.
"Time to burn." Sólskin said with him.
Ignatius struck first, bathing the area where The Hunters stood with red flames. The flames licked hungrily at the vegetation, quickly accelerating into a forest fire.
Ignatius didn't know why he felt a sudden glee at being around the burning fire. He just felt stronger and more invincible.
The fire is of our flame and ours to control. It is our strength and they know that. Sólskin said wickedly as he probably relished in the joy of death about to descend on Ignacio for the second time.
Good. Let's use it to our advantage to keep these murders trapped in one place.
With a sweeping motion of his hand directed by Sólskin, he formed a wall of fire behind The Hunters to prevent them from leaving.
Lightning streaked down from the sky, blasting Hunters left and right. Streams of water slapped any Hunters Zephyr missed away. Orestes threw rocks again.
While the three of them held off The Hunters surprisingly well, he singled out Ignacio sneaking around instead of engaging the enemy head on like he usually would.
Looks like he's come to favor being a weasel instead of a warrior. Resulting to tricks instead of actual fighting. Pathetic. Let's hurry up and end his miserable life very slowly to make him suffer immensely.
He couldn't agree more with Sólskin.
Going after Ignacio like a predator, he soon had him trapped in between his wall of fire and himself, leaving his adoptive father nowhere else to run to. His fellow Hunters were too occupied, leaving him ultimately alone with Ignatius as his punishment for all the wrongs he had done throughout his evil and wicked life. It all ended today.
"Today you die, Ignacio. Not just for all of what you have done to me but for what you have to Melia, Hakan, Elidi, everyone you have killed or laid a hand on. Today you answer for everything you have ever done."
Instead of cowering like a sacred little bag of shit he thought Ignacio would be, Ignacio only laughed.
"You're the one that will die today, Boy. Now that I have your friend's power—,"
"Power? What the Hell are you blabbing about now?" He asked, confused at what kind of bullshit he was going on about.
"Why your friend's dragon soul of course. It's mine now and so are it's powers." He said, smiling wickedly.
"Oh shi—," he started when a branch caught him in the middle of the chest, throwing him back a good ten feet.
Sólskin, how is he able to use Melia's dragon soul? That should be impossible. He's not Drekablod.
It's his Hunter abilities that the other Hunters gave to him. The others can do this too.
Wait. That means they haven't been using their full power. Oh no. We have to warn—, he was interrupted by Ignacio jabbing down at him with his red tinted sap bloodied sword. Ignatius rolled out of the way, kicking his legs out to drop Ignacio to the ground hopefully. He got a solid hit. Ignacio fell to the ground with a thump and an angry roar.
Scrambling to his feet, he started to make his way over to the others.
"Where do you think you're going?" Ignacio suddenly said, tackling him from behind.
How Ignacio caught up with him that fast he had no idea how except possibly having enhanced abilities like the rest of The Hunters.
"Get the fuck off me!" Ignatius roared, throwing out an arm to smack the older man off.
His arm was caught and twisted behind his back painfully.
"You think you're something special?" Ignacio hissed harshly in his ear. "Well guess what? You aren't anymore."
Then he was flipped onto his back, a boot slamming into his chest to keep him from getting up.
Ignacio towered about him, a sneer on his face.
A sword was raised about his head, coming down at his chest.
Like he had once done before a long time ago, his arms rocketed up to catch the blade on his hands. His palms screamed in pain at the tearing of his flesh.
Sólskin...can you do something?
In his response, heat rose up to his palms, soothing the pain in his palms and healing it. That still didn't help with the sword slowly coming down toward him. His heat radiating palms did nothing to melt the sword, even when Sólskin increased it to where he could feel the scorching heat coming off his skin in waves.
His arms ached with the exertion of keeping the sword away from him. He needed help and now before he ended up like Melia and left the others to die by The Hunters' cruel hands.
Trying to see how the battle was going, he became distracted enough to lose his grip on the sword.
The heated metal plunged into his chest cavity with a sicken crack of bone.
At first he didn't feel anything but the pain of the sword in his chest when it increased ten fold.
A inhuman scream echoed in his head as Sólskin roared in complete agony. Sólskin's own cries of pain were so loud that he didn't even hear his own.
Through barely open eyes he saw a red wisp float up to Ignacio and disappeared behind his back. He suddenly felt very alone and hollow.
The sword was removed from his chest with a horrible sucking sound.
Ignacio knelt next to him.
"Thank you for your sacrifice, Ignatius. I promise to use this power very well. Better than you ever would have."
He was so weak that he didn't have the energy to even look at Ignacio as he walked away. Or barely even breath as blood filled his lungs.
His eyes slowly started to started to close as rain poured from the sky, painting his face in the tears he could not muster.
Right before his eyes closed for good he could have sworn he saw the rain stop falling and gather together to form some sort of semi-clear dome above him.
Then everything went black as he closed his eyes for the last time and his breath left his body for good.

P.S. Tor means "a rock" in Celtic and Ivara means "yew tree or archer" in German. Axton means "Sword stone" in English(British origin). Thought you guys might want to know what they mean.
Melia deserved a so much better death. I'm sorry I killed her. I literally sat in silence for like two minutes feeling horrible for what I did to her. Sorry 😭.
Sorry about the Cliffhanger too. I'll return in a month after I get things for book 2 together. See you then.